March 28, 2010
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Great bunch of prizes on offer this month!
These are the prizes in the pool for our PCAGOE April Challenge, the theme of which is "Inspired by Fabric". Vote between April 1 and April 7, 2010 and you could win one of these prizes handmade by our talented member artists!
Top Row L-R: 11BoldStreet - pen; RenGalSA - tietac; PolymerClayCreations - bead set; LaurelSteven - pendant; Chicki - earrings
2nd Row L-R: Spiritmama - bunny charm; BeeTreeByMe - pendant; ClayHappy - earrings; SCDiva - pendant; ClayCenter - earrings
3rd Row L-R: NKDesigns - brooch; JKollmann - necklace; RenGalSA - bracelet; ClayCenter - covered tin; LauraBeeStudios - bracelet and earrings set
By a fantastic bunch of artists. Check out their shops - I've taken the time to link each of their etsy shops in the listing above - just click on the names and you'll be directed to each shop. Worth the visit!
The challenge theme for April is "Inspired by Fabric."
This is the fabric from which I took my inspiration:
I bought this about 3 years ago on ebay and I still love it. In my utter insanity, I had thought at first of making three or four of the white backgrounded canes, and one or two with black and white. However, I chose one element to adapt, made that, and arranged that in a few different ways and quit!
I think my piece looks fine without having killed myself and investing even more clay than I did already. 
I did make the polka dot cane, too, and the entire piece is polymer clay - I first created a form from cardboard and masking tape, then formed textured clay (more dots!) around it to make the box itself - baked that, then applied the ruffles. The paisley lid was baked in one go - I have a smaller piece of clay on the inside that keeps the lid from falling off - I baked both pieces at the same time, but as individual pieces. Then I assembled the pieces together in a "test" pattern, trimmed the inside sheet with a pair of safety scissors and then put the whole thing together with SuperGlue - the only part that's not clay!
I'm quite happy with it. The box itself is very sound and square, sits flat, doesn't jiggle, and it really does look like fabric. What more could one ask?
Don't forget to vote starting April Fool's Day, April 1. (As one of my fellow artists said about that date in her blog: "No foolin'!")
The entries this month are all fantastic - I know we say that every month but I promise you, prepare to be conflicted (except about my piece - we all know you'll vote for that one!
) about your votes. me<><
